Weather and Climate Case Studies

Great Storm of 1987 - The Event

When: 15th-16th October 1987

Where: Effected areas throughout Britain but particuarly badly affected were those places on the southern coastline

Physical Geography:

Depression formed over the Bay of Biscay on the afternoon of the 15th - warmer air from the tropics met cooler air from the polar regions, the warmer air rose above the polar air causing precipitation, high winds and cooler temperatures

MET office believed it would miss the UK but by 10:35pm it became obvious that the storm had changed course and was heading for the UK

The Event:

Strongest gust = 100 knots on Sussex Coast

London Weather Centre recorded gusts of 82 knots and Gatwick airport 86 knots

NOT A HURRICANE as it did not develop over tropics

Considerable temperature changes = around 6 degrees decrease per hour

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Great Storm of 1987 - Impacts

19 dead in England

15 million trees blow down including 6 oaks from Kew Gardens

Trees blocked roads and railways

Power lines went down = 5 million homes without electricity

Caravan parks wrecked

Fire brigade had 6000 calls in 24 hours

Buildings collapsed

MV Hengist blown aground

Ship capsized at Dover

Cost £15 million in insurance claims = higher premiums the next year

Fallen trees = new habitats for animals

Some plants benefited = closer to sunlight

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Hurricane Charley - The Event

When: August 2004

Strength: Hit Florida as a Catergory 4 Hurricane - storm surge was only 6-7 feet though

Development:

4th August: began as tropical wave off the coast of Africa

9th August: 185km from Barbados it developed into a tropical depression

10th August: it was now classed as a tropical storm

11th August: Hurricane Charley as it was moved northwest by a strong ridge of high pressure

13th August: made landfall in Cuba as a catergory 3 hurricane

14th August: made its second landfall in Florida as a catergory 4 hurricane and continued to track across Florida (from the Captiva Islands)

Took only 7 hours for the hurricane to track across the Florida penisula